Apparatus for controlled incineration air supply

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an elongated plenum tube, adapted to be positioned along one margin of a generally rectangular burning pit. The tube is provided with a reinforced nozzle structure extending the length of the tube which discharges air from the plenum in a flat layer or curtain over and into the burning pit. A powered fan supplies the air through a rigid tube intersecting with the plenum tube and a hinge is provided at the intersection permitting movement of the two tubes to a stowed, side-by-side position in which the apparatus can be towed over-the-road from job to job.

United States Patent 1 Applegate 11 3,773,000 [451 Nov. 20, 1973 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLED INCINERATION AIR SUPPLY [76] Inventor: Robert D. Applegate, Attica, Ind.

[22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 228,915

[52] U.S. Cl. 110/8 R, 110/119, 239/597,

[51] Int. Cl. F23g 3/02 [58] Field of Search 110/7 R, 8 R, 1l9; 98/36; 239/597 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,483,832 12/1969 Boll et a1 110/7 R 3,086,441 4/1963 London 98/36 3,391,662 7/1968 Sailers..... 1lO/l8 3,332,334 7/1967 Melzer 98/36 3,465,696 9/ 1969 Amundsen 110/8 R Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Assistant Examiner-Ronald C. Capossela Attorney-Maurice A. Weikart et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is anelongated plenum tube, adapted to be positioned along one margin of a generally rectangular burning pit. The tube is provided with a reinforced nozzle structure extending the length of the tube which discharges air from the plenum in a flat layer or curtain over and into the burning pit. A powered fan supplies the air through a rigid tube intersecting with the plenum tube and a hinge is provided at the intersection permitting movement of the two tubes to a stowed, side-by-side position in which the apparatus can be towed over-the-road from job to job.

1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEURUVZO I975 1 3.773.000

SHEET 20$ 3 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLED INCINERATION AIR SUPPLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Burning pit disposal of refuse, utilizing a curtain or layer of air over the pit is not unknown in the prior art. Because the burning takes place in a confined space at high temperature and in excess oxygen, burning of material, for example, such as stumps and debris resulting from land clearance operations, can be accomplished with very little pollution of the atmosphere by smoke or other products of combustion. Effectiveness of the air curtain in preventing the emission of smoke from the burning pit depends to a high degree on proper placement and direction of the air curtain. The air should be directed at the pit along the complete length of one side margin of the pit and must enter the pit at a slight angle to the horizontal so that the curtain or layer rolls down the far side of the pit and into the burning refuse. The discharge nozzle area of the air curtain apparatus tends to become overheated and, since it is exposed closely adjacent the pit, is vulnerable to being hit by heavy debris such as logs or tree branches being fed into the pit from overhead as the burning operation proceeds. Any distortion of the nozzle area of the apparatus, under impact, results in misdirection of the air curtain and unsatisfactory operation of the incineration process. Convenient maneuverability of the apparatus for proper placement of the nozzle with relation to the burning pit is highly desirable, and, since the apparatus may be used progressively on widely separated job sites, portability, by towing for example, is a further desirable feature.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a reinforced nozzle structure adapted for conveneint maneuver and placement adjacent a burning pit. The 'construction of the nozzle component is such that heat is rapidly conducted from its exposed portions. The plenum tube component and air supply component are hinged to each other permitting them to be moved to a stowed, side-by-side position which facilitates towing of the apparatus from job to job.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention in operation at a burning pit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 arranged for maneuvering with respect to a burning pit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the air supply tube component of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective fragmentary view of the nozzle structure of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the nozzle structure taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a further portion of the air supply component.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the plenum component showing the hinge for attaching the air supply tube.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a further portion of the plenum tube and accompanying hinge connection.

FIG. 9 is a schematic, side view of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the general path of the air flow produced by the apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the apparatus with a modified form of the nozzle structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 and is shown situated adjacent a generally rectangular burning pit 11 in which debris is burning. As may be seen in FIG. 9, the apparatus 10 provides a moving layer or curtain of air, indicated at 12 in FIG. 9, which moves across the top of the burning pit ll, impinges on the sidewall of the pit opposite the apparatus 10 and somewhat below its upper margin, then rolls downwardly into the burning debris 13 and curls back upwardly along the pit wall. The apparatus 10 is composed of a three section plenum tube formed by joined sections 14, 15 and 16. Extending along the length of the joined plenum tube sections is a nozzle structure 18.

As may best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, in wich the section 15 of the tubular plenum is shown in some detail, it will be noted that a longitudinal break in the tube 15 is bounded by reinforcing Z-bars 21. The lower flanges of the bars 21 are bolted to the margin of the tubular plenum l5 and two inclined upper and lower nozzle plates 22 and 23, respectively. Welded to the plates 22 and 23 and spaced along their lengths are generally triangular gusset plates 24. Welded to the upper surface of the plate 22 is a reinforcing plate or beam 26 which extends substantially the entire length of the plate. A similar reiforcing plate (not shown) might be utilized at the undersurface of the plate 23. Rivetted transition flange members, indicated at 27 in FIG. 4, serve to join the identical tubular plenum sections 14, 15 and 16 and unitary masking plates may be provided in overlying relation to the plate 22 and the corresponding bars 26.

Referring to FIG. 7, the plenum section 16 differs from sections 14 and 15 in that his provided with an extending, flanged portion 28 which is joined to the tubular air supply section 10, as shown in FIG. 1. As may best be seen in FIG. 7, intersecting brackets 29 and 31 extend from the adjoining portions of the tubular section and portions of the brackets carry vertically aligned apertures 32. The brackets 29 and 31 find their counterparts in brackets 33 and 34 which carry members providing vertically aligned apertures 36. A vertical bar 37 reinforces the structure. The aligned apertures 32 and 36 are adapted to receive vertical pintles forming a part of the hinge structure to be further described with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates a further section of the air supply tube 10, the section illustrated in FIG. 8 being identitied at 48 in FIG. 8 and FIG. .1. As may be seen in FIG. 8, the tubular section 48 carries intersecting brackets 49, at its upper surface and counterpart brackets 51 at its lower surface. The brackets carry extending, apertured members 52 and 53 which extend between the members carrying apertures 32 and 36, respectively, of FIG. 7. When the vertical pintle (not shown) is in place in the aligned apertures, it will be evident that a hinge is provided between the tubular plenum formed by sections 14, 15 and 16 and the air supply tube 10, the tube section 48 and the plenum section 16 being the particular elements carrying the hinge.

As may best be seen in FIG. 2, the outer ends of the plenum sections 14 and 16 are provided with brackets 57 which support removable stub axles for maneuvering wheels 58. The maneuvering wheels are installed on the ends of the plenum section after the apparatus has been placed near the burning pit and permit maneuvering of the apparatus into fmal position adjacent the pit. After this has been accomplished, the wheels 58 are removed as will be apparent in FIG. 1. The air supply tube 10, adjacent its extending end, is supported by a pair of towing wheels 61 and above the wheel is supported a power unit, such as a small internal combustion engine 62 which drives the fan for supplying air to the plenum, the arrangement of the fan and the driving belt connection between the engine 62 and the fan being subsequently described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6.

Referring primarily to FIG. 3, the intake portion 71 of the air supply means is illustrated. This tubular member forms a part of the air supply tube and is generally disposed beyond the fan drive engine 62, the belt from the engine drive pulley to the pulley carried on the fan shaft extending through the cut-out portion 72 of the member 71. The tube 71 provides a noise silencing effect and its interior is lined with fiber glass insulating material and the back plate 73 disposed at the end of the tube 71 also carries sound insulating material on its inner surface. The back plate is spaced from the terminal flange 71a of the tube 71 by means of the spacer members 74, the spacer members thus providing an annular opening between the back plate 73 and the adjacent end of the tube 71 permitting entry of air into the tube. The back plate may be provided with a vertical channel member 76, the member 76 being rigidly fastened to the outer face of the back plate. The channel member 76 provides an abutment surface against which a prime mover such as a truck or tractor may exert a pushing force to position the assembly properly with relation to the burning pit.

FIG. 6 discloses the fan 81 within the tubular section 82, the section 82 being disposed adjacent the tubular section 71 described with reference to FIG. 3, their positioning with relation to the engine powering the fan being illustrated in FIG. 2. The extending end 83a of the fan shaft 83 carries a pulley (not shown) which accommodates the belt extending through the cut-out portion 72 (FIG. 3) and driven by the drive pulley of the engine 62. The fan assembly is preferably provided with a second set of radially extending blades 84, and vanes 86 and 87 are provided to improve the axial flow characteristics of the fan. Rotation of the fan by the engine 62 thus draws air into the tubular section 71 (FIG. 3) and moves it through the remainder of the air supply tube 10 into the plenum composed of sections 14, and 16 and out of the discharge nozzle 25 of the nozzle structure.

When the tubular plenum formed by the sections 14, 15 and 16 is in stowed position, the tubular plenum member will lie side-by-side with the tubular air supply member 10 and the apparatus may be towed by means of the trailer hitch 91 (FIG. 1) provided at the end of the plenum section 16. In operation the apparatus may thus be towed into position adjacent the edge of the pit with the parallel axes of the plenum tube and air supply tube perpendicular to the edge of the pit but spaced far enough from the edge of the pit to permit removal of the towing vehicle. The hitch end of the apparatus may then be jacked up and unhooked from the towing vehicle. the towing vehicle may then be driven around to the fan end of the apparatus and the tubular plenum member moved to its position of FIGs. 1 and 2 by swinging it about the hinge 29. The maneuvering wheels 58 may then be attached to the brackets 57 at the ends of the plenum tube and the jack lowered so that the tubular plenum member rests upon the wheels 58. The apparatus may then be pushed toward the pit, the maneuvering wheels 58 being free to be manually deflected as necessary to place the nozzle structure 18 parallel to the edge of the pit and spaced slightly to the rear of it. The plenum member may then be jacked up, again the wheels 58 removed and the plenum lowered after placing the small mount of dirt (indicated at 96 in FIG. 9) under the plenum to restrict air flow back under the nozzle structure 18. With the nozzle structure 18 directed slightly below the upper margin of the opposite side of the burning pit 11 as indicated in FIG. 9, upon starting the unit air will flow from the discharge nozzle in the generally looping path indicated at 12 in FIG. 9 and the characteritic, smokeless burning of the debris 13 in the burning pit will take place. As incineration of the debris proceeds, more may be loaded in the pit.

Referring to FIG. 10 an alternate form of the nozzle structure is illustrated. In FIG. 10 reference numeral 101 indicates the tubular plenum section having extending along one of its sides a series of generally rectangular nozzles 102 which collectively form the nozzle structure. Overlying and extending across the nozzles 102 is a reinforcing bar 103 which serves to strengthen and protect the nozzle structure. The nozzle structure may be further strengthened by the addition of supporting straps welded or otherwise suitably secured to the plenum 101 and to bar 103 and spaced as desired along the length of the plenum. Underlying the nozzles 102 is a reinforcing bar 104, similar to the bar 103 which also provides for strengthening the nozzle structure and aiding it in resisting the impact shock from objects dropped into the burning pit which might contact the nozzles as its moves into the pit.

The structure described is characterized by rigid bracing of the nozzle area so as to resist impact shock and to provide good thermal conduction of heat away from the nozzle area (through the gussets and reinforcing members). The apparatus is portable in that it can be towed over the road from job to job and is readily manueverable (by attachment of the maneuvering wheels 58) so as to assure proper placement of the nozzle structure with relation to the burning pit, a factor of extreme importance in providing the proper application of the air curtain or layer over the pit during the incinerating operation.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for directing a curtain of air over material burning in a generally rectangular burning pit, said apparatus including an elongated tubular plenum member, air supply mean comprising a powered fan adapted to deliver air to said plenum member, and a nozzle structure extending from one side of said plenum member along substantially the entire length thereof, said nozzle structure providing a series of passages each terminating in an elongaged narrow discharge slot and the discharge slot for each passage arranged end-to-end with the adjoining slots, and means for reinforcing said aligned discharge slots comprising a protecting beam attached to said nozzle structure adjacent said slots and extending the total length of the slots, said plenum member being adapted for positioning adjacent one define said elongated discharge slot, and generally triangular gusset members spanning the space between said plates and spaced along their length to rigidify said nozzle structure and to conduct heat away from the converging end area of said plates. 

1. Apparatus for directing a curtain of air over material burning in a generally rectangular burning pit, said apparatus including an elongated tubular plenum member, air supply mean comprising a powered fan adapted to deliver air to said plenum member, and a nozzle structure extending from one side of said plenum member along substantially the entire length thereof, said nozzle structure providing a series of passages each terminating in an elongaged narrow discharge slot and the discharge slot for each passage arranged end-to-end with the adjoining slots, and means for reinforcing said aligned discharge slots comprising a protecting beam attached to said nozzle structure adjacent said slots and extending the total length of the slots, said plenum member being adapted for positioning adjacent one margin of the burning pit with said nozzle structure extending toward the pit and the discharge slots directed at the opposite pit wall and below the upper margin thereof, said nozzle structure comprises upper and lower plates secured in parallel spaced relation to said plenum member at one of their margins and converging toward each other adjacent their opposite margin to define said elongated discharge slot, and generally triangular gusset members spanning the space between said plates and spaced along their length to rigidify said nozzle structure and to conduct heat away from the converging end area of said plates. 